Parametric transducer systems and related methods

Abstract

A method of optimizing a parametric emitter system having a pot core transformer coupled between an amplifier and an emitter, the method comprising: selecting a number of turns required in a primary winding of the pot core transformer to achieve an optimal level of load impedance experienced by the amplifier; and selecting a number of turns required in a secondary winding of the pot core transformer to achieve electrical resonance between the secondary winding and the emitter.

1. A parametric signal emitting system, comprising:
 a signal processing system that generates an ultrasonic carrier signal having an audio signal modulated thereon; 
 an amplifier, operable to amplify the carrier signal having the audio signal modulated thereon; 
 an emitter, capable of emitting into a fluid medium the carrier signal having the audio signal modulated thereon; and 
 a pot core transformer, operatively coupled between the amplifier and the emitter; wherein 
 a secondary winding of the pot core transformer and the emitter are arranged in a parallel resonant circuit. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pot core includes an outer wall that substantially fully encloses windings of the transformer, and an inner wall circumscribed by the windings of the transformer. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the inner wall includes an air gap defined therein. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a number of turns in a secondary winding of the pot core transformer is selected to produce electrical resonance with a capacitance of the emitter. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a number of turns in a primary winding of the pot core transformer is selected to achieve an optimal level of load impedance experienced by the amplifier. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transformer comprises an autotransformer. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transformer is attached to an assembly carrying the emitter. 
     
     
       8. A method of optimizing a parametric emitter system having a pot core transformer coupled between an amplifier and an emitter, the method comprising:
 determining a number of turns required in a primary winding of the pot core transformer to achieve an optimal level of load impedance experienced by the amplifier; 
 determining an optimal physical size of a pot core to contain windings of the transformer, the pot core having an air gap formed in an inner wall thereof with the windings of the transformer circumscribing the inner wall; and 
 selecting a size of the air gap of the pot core containing the transformer windings to enable use of a pot core having the determined optimal physical size while avoiding saturation of the transformer during operation of the parametric emitter system. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pot core transformer comprises an autotransformer. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein an induction of a secondary winding of the transformer electrically resonates with a capacitance of the emitter. 
     
     
       11. A method of optimizing performance of an amplifier-emitter pair, comprising:
 selecting a pot core to contain and shield a step-up transformer electrically coupled between an amplifier and an emitter, the pot core including an air gap formed in an inner wall thereof; 
 selecting a level of inductance of a secondary winding of the step-up transformer such that electrical resonance can be achieved between the secondary winding and the emitter; and 
 adjusting a size of the air gap of the pot core to decrease an overall physical size of the pot core transformer while avoiding saturation of the transformer during operation of the amplifier-emitter pair. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a desired number of turns on a primary winding of the step-up transformer such that an optimal level of load impedance is presented to the amplifier electrically coupled to the primary winding. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step-up transformer comprises an autotransformer. 
     
     
       14. A method of optimizing a parametric emitter system having a pot core transformer coupled between an amplifier and an emitter, the method comprising:
 selecting a number of turns required in a primary winding of the pot core transformer to achieve an optimal level of load impedance experienced by the amplifier; and 
 selecting a number of turns required in a secondary winding of the pot core transformer to achieve electrical resonance between the secondary winding and the emitter. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining an optimal physical size of a pot core to contain the transformer, the pot core having an air gap formed in an inner wall thereof with windings of the transformer circumscribing the inner wall; and 
 selecting a size of the air gap of the pot core containing the transformer to decrease an overall physical size of the pot core transformer while avoiding saturation of the transformer during operation of the emitter. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pot core containing the windings of the transformer is substantially toroidal in configuration. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the toroidal pot core includes an outer wall that substantially fully encloses the windings of the transformer, and an inner wall circumscribed by the windings of the transformer. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the inner wall includes the air gap defined therein. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the amplifier provides a modulated ultrasonic signal to the emitter. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the emitter is optimized to emit the modulated ultrasonic signal into a non-linear medium adjacent the emitter.